I have been bowling now for about 14 years. I have used the latest and greatest equipment. I have also rolled used equipment. In my 14 years I have learned a lot about the game. I have been taking lessons regularly for the last year and a half, by far the greatest investment I have ever made in bowling. I have now come to the conclusion that I will no longer be buying into the latest and greatest equipment. The equipment is only part of the equation. The balls that are coming out now are no different than those that came out 10-15 years ago maybe even longer. The ball companies are giving us bowlers nothing more than a marketing gimmick in which we believe that we need to roll the latest and greatest in order to score. I am tired of staff members giving reviews saying that they have never seen a ball react like this or like that. I am actually sick of reading reviews altogether because they are no different than what they have been. I haven't seen anything different that makes me want to give up my hyroad or any other ball that I currently use. here isn't one piece of equipment out there that gets me excited to go purchase a new ball tonight! Each of my balls has at least 150 games on them and I have seen no decline in reaction or carry. It is all about the bowler and how he/she makes adjustments. If some bowlers would invest the money they use on new equipment and put that towards some personal lessons, I think we could change this game around for the better. I've done my part over the last two years to get my game turned around to a point where I no longer believe that the latest and greatest equipment is what will make me score and carry better, but its my personal game and my ability to adjust to the lanes that makes me score better. my physical game has changed and is a work in progress, and will always be a work in progress, now its time for me to improve on the mental part of the game.

This is a "big secret" too.  Lower end balls now are generally old high end balls that were tweaked a little to be weaker, but they work really well on house patterns.  My Yellow Misfit owns house patterns, one of the cheapest reactives on the market. 

There hasn't really been a true revolutionary breakthrough in ball technology since the introduction of resin enhanced urethane in 1991.  In addition, the overall core shell matchups, particularly on high end balls, has become so aggressive that those balls are too condition specific to a great degree.  That is why the mid price balls have become so popular.  Tamer cores employed on mid and lower priced equipment matches up better on most conditions than the total hook monsters being brought out on the high end. 

I will make one caveat.  Shells eventually get to the point that they will not handle heavier longer tournament patterns even if the ball is meticulously cared for.

Also, you cant really blame the ball companies.  Everyone markets new products as the latest and greatest.  It is up to consumers to discern the true value of the product.  In the case of bowling balls, I never buy a ball based on hype by the manufacturer.  I have bought a lot of balls based on getting beat multiple times by guys throwing a certain ball against me.   

I have bought a lot of balls based on getting beat multiple times by guys throwing a certain ball against me.

avabob, you ever think that it wasn't the ball that beat you, rather someone actually did out bowl you or maybe you just didn't perform that well? Nothing against you just the statement you made. You see, that's the mentality of todays bowlers. You need a certain ball to beat someone. Put some extra practice time in or hire a coach to better improve your game instead of putting that 200 bucks for a new ball, spend 50 bucks for an hour session with a coach!

Fortunately I have been around long enough to differentiate between equipment and skill.  Not like every time some guy beats me ( which is more often than I like ) I go get the ball he used.  However I have bought at least 10 balls over the last 20 years because of watching their performance in the hands of an opponent whose game I know well.  I have never bought a ball based on the marketing hype.

I stand by my statement that there has been no revolutionary break through since the resin ball.  If you were around when the X Caliber came out, or the first AMF Angle in 1981, you understand what I am talking about.  There have been lots of balls during the resin area that matched up really well for my game and were clearly better than other balls for me.  Not the same thing as a revolutionary breakthrough.   

I do not fault the companies at all. The problems lye with the bowlers. I know there are a few guys in my home center that do buy into the latest is the greatest bit. Some guys carry 6 balls to leagues with them and are clueless as to how to make adjustments on the lanes. They just pick another ball out of their bags and see what happens. This type of attitude bothers me a bit. Everytime I have a really good game/match the first thing out of these guys mouths are, "Man what ball were you using to throw that?" 

That's interesting.......I had no idea that went on back then. Thanks for the history lesson!

If only I was throwing 15lbs when I got my Danger Zone.  I have a 16lb one of those that I can't roll anymore.  All the ball I ever needed, if I had a 15 lb Danger Zone it'd be the only ball I'd need at the lanes.  Never had a Vapor Zone but I bet I would feel the same way about it.  My Nexxxus is the last new high end ball I buy.